While at Patrick Henry College, where Reformed Presbyterian author Rosaria Butterfield was interviewed by WORLD editor Marvin Olasky with an audience of 50 college students, I struck up a conversation with a college official. He had been moved by Rosaria’s words. He compared a theme of her message to Os Guinness’ words earlier that week during a similar interview.

Neither author, for example, spent time encouraging a frontal assault on government in order to energize our Christian nation, so to speak, or our moral majority. Their focus was more limited.

They encouraged true Christians to be salty salt and bright light, and the church to act like the church, not a quasi-government organization or a relevant social club. Os Guinness went so far as to say that, in a way, Christianity is thriving more in Europe because, with the mantle of Christian no longer in fashion, the Christians who are there are highly committed and have had to count the cost. In America, on the other hand, being Christian is still cool, as long as you keep your faith within bounds.

This college official saw the messages of Os Guinness and Rosaria Butterfield as representing a new paradigm of sorts. Jerry O’Neill’s article and Barry York’s article in this issue connect well with that theme, as they call for doctrinally solid congregations that are known by the love they show to one another and to the needy.

I don’t want to misrepresent any of those authors. You can read their words yourself. And I didn’t hear any of them saying that one should never call the government to account, that Christians have no role there, no voice. This magazine focused a couple of issues ago on the continuing importance of teaching and recognizing Christ’s kingship over all. The question here is one of emphasis and of strategy.

Perhaps looking to Christ in His earthly role will help. He was a king then, too. He did call leaders to account. He did use power and authority. But how was His earthly ministry characterized? It was not focused on the ascent to governmental power but on the condescension to the least in society. As we continue Jesus’ unfinished work, which He planned for us to do, our ministry should be characterized in the same way.

There is a lot to think about here. As is clear, I’m neither the expert nor the expositor. I do see, however, a tide of evidence of Reformed Presbyterian churches bringing the benefits of Christ’s kingship to the poor and needy, to the sinner and the outcast. I see this in news reports from North American congregations as well as RP Churches in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

This would be a great time to have a Reformed Presbyterian consultation on this topic. We could discuss the doctrinal imperatives and the practical applications. We could learn from what RP congregations are already doing and strategize about how to do things better.